NW Arkansas

Northwest Arkansas Alerts

Alert

blue

A daily look at the most significant and interesting stories affecting Northwest Arkansas, written by local reporters.

Axios Northwest Arkansas Thought Bubble

Thought Bubble

Axios NW Arkansas Partners

Axios Northwest Arkansas

Standard

Axios NW Arkansas Deep Dive

Deep Dive

Northwest Arkansas Members

Membership

Monday Munchies: New Orleans cuisine in Bentonville

Try some New Orleans classics at Table Orleans.

Food and Drink

I nearly jerked my car into the parking lot when I saw the new &quot;Table Orleans&quot; sign on Walton Boulevard because, in case you haven&#x27;t noticed, Benton County is sorely lacking in New Orleans fare.🤤 Why it matters: Having to hunt for New Orleans cuisine is tragic because it&#x27;s some of the most flavorful and unique menus specific to a region and a culture in the United States. And it hails from the state directly south of us — so close but so far away.

Walmart and J.B. Hunt want focus over flash

The two companies told Onward FX attendees that the Fortune 500 wants startups to provide fixes for specific business problems.

Business

Walmart and J.B. Hunt Transport leaders told attendees at Onward FX in Bentonville what Fortune 500 companies want from startups: fixes for specific business problems.The big picture: Twice a year, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Startup NWA" data-vars-click-url="https://startupnwa.com/" data-vars-content-id="93fcf83c-9310-4def-94fc-e5bbbba1dfa0" data-vars-headline="Walmart and J.B. Hunt want focus over flash" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://startupnwa.com/" target="_blank">Startup NWA</a> organizers convene Onward FX with a curated group of entrepreneurs and venture capital firms to network and, hopefully, strike deals.

Gov. Sanders on Iran, Tucker Carlson and GOP

Sanders frequently appears on Fox News shows.

Politics

Appearing on <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="CNBC&#x27;s Squawk Box" data-vars-click-url="https://www.cnbc.com/video/2026/04/23/arkansas-gov-sarah-huckabee-sanders-on-state-of-the-economy-iran-war-latest.html" data-vars-content-id="3542b4e8-4ad3-4809-b3bc-1610c4c53b01" data-vars-headline="Gov. Sanders on Iran, Tucker Carlson and GOP" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.cnbc.com/video/2026/04/23/arkansas-gov-sarah-huckabee-sanders-on-state-of-the-economy-iran-war-latest.html" target="_blank">CNBC&#x27;s Squawk Box</a> Thursday morning, Republican Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders was asked to weigh in on the midterm elections and President Trump&#x27;s approach to Iran.The big picture: Sanders frequently appears on Fox News shows (<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="&quot;Jesse Watters Primetime&quot;" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/nw-arkansas/2026/03/18/gov-sanders-touts-save-act-funding-dhs" data-vars-content-id="3542b4e8-4ad3-4809-b3bc-1610c4c53b01" data-vars-headline="Gov. Sanders on Iran, Tucker Carlson and GOP" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/nw-arkansas/2026/03/18/gov-sanders-touts-save-act-funding-dhs" target="_self">&quot;Jesse Watters Primetime&quot;</a>, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="&quot;Fox &amp; Friends&quot;" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/nw-arkansas/2026/02/20/arkansas-gov-sanders-knocks-dems-on-fox-news" data-vars-content-id="3542b4e8-4ad3-4809-b3bc-1610c4c53b01" data-vars-headline="Gov. Sanders on Iran, Tucker Carlson and GOP" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/nw-arkansas/2026/02/20/arkansas-gov-sanders-knocks-dems-on-fox-news" target="_self">&quot;Fox &amp; Friends&quot;</a>) and in March was the first guest on a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="new Politico" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/nw-arkansas/2026/03/10/gov-sanders-doubles-down-on-trump-sidesteps-2028-talk" data-vars-content-id="3542b4e8-4ad3-4809-b3bc-1610c4c53b01" data-vars-headline="Gov. Sanders on Iran, Tucker Carlson and GOP" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/nw-arkansas/2026/03/10/gov-sanders-doubles-down-on-trump-sidesteps-2028-talk" target="_self">new Politico</a> show, &quot;<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="On the Road With Jonathan Martin" data-vars-click-url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5cYHPw-ZVc" data-vars-content-id="3542b4e8-4ad3-4809-b3bc-1610c4c53b01" data-vars-headline="Gov. Sanders on Iran, Tucker Carlson and GOP" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5cYHPw-ZVc" target="_blank">On the Road With Jonathan Martin</a>.&quot;

How to protect birds from hitting windows

I've known birds could strike windows in flight, killing themselves, but didn't realize some would go for their own likeness.

Things to Do

<blockquote>Once upon a new morn&#x27; dreary, while I pondered weak and weary,</blockquote><blockquote>Over many quaint and curious volume of that very day&#x27;s most recent lore </blockquote><blockquote>While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a ta-ta-ta-tapping,</blockquote><blockquote>As of someone gently rapping, rapping at my transparent door</blockquote><blockquote>&quot;&#x27;Tis the wind&quot; I muttered, &quot;tapping at the transparent door —</blockquote><blockquote>Only this and nothing more.&quot;</blockquote>Well, it turned out to be a male bluebird <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="attacking his reflection" data-vars-click-url="https://www.audubon.org/magazine/why-birds-attack-windows-and-mirrors-and-how-you-can-stop-them?utm_source=chatgpt.com" data-vars-content-id="b3ecf2a6-db85-46ad-9a10-8a527ffba086" data-vars-headline="How to protect birds from hitting windows" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.audubon.org/magazine/why-birds-attack-windows-and-mirrors-and-how-you-can-stop-them?utm_source=chatgpt.com" target="_blank">attacking his reflection</a> in a bedroom window.

What to know about the ongoing fiscal session

Arkansas lawmakers have been meeting to decide all things state budget.

News

Arkansas lawmakers have been <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="meeting in Little Rock" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/nw-arkansas/2026/04/07/arkansas-legislature-decide-state-budget?utm_source=newsletter&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=newsletter_axioslocal_nw_arkansas&amp;stream=top" data-vars-content-id="225d8780-e44c-42a2-ac9a-b37d0025c2fd" data-vars-headline="What to know about the ongoing fiscal session" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/nw-arkansas/2026/04/07/arkansas-legislature-decide-state-budget?utm_source=newsletter&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=newsletter_axioslocal_nw_arkansas&amp;stream=top" target="_self">meeting in Little Rock</a> the past few weeks to decide all things state budget, and Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders has signed <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="dozens of bills" data-vars-click-url="https://governor.arkansas.gov/news_post/bills-signed-sb6-sb9-sb11-sb12-sb17-sb18-sb34-sb35-sb37-sb38-sb57-hb1012-hb1027-hb1028-hb1038-hb1040-hb1043-hb1046-hb1056-hb1059-hb1061-hb1063-hb1074-hb1079-sb25-sb27-sb28/" data-vars-content-id="225d8780-e44c-42a2-ac9a-b37d0025c2fd" data-vars-headline="What to know about the ongoing fiscal session" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://governor.arkansas.gov/news_post/bills-signed-sb6-sb9-sb11-sb12-sb17-sb18-sb34-sb35-sb37-sb38-sb57-hb1012-hb1027-hb1028-hb1038-hb1040-hb1043-hb1046-hb1056-hb1059-hb1061-hb1063-hb1074-hb1079-sb25-sb27-sb28/" target="_blank">dozens of bills</a> to fund state agencies.Here&#x27;s what to know ahead of the last expected few days of the fiscal session.

Crystal Bridges outsources hospitality staff

The change affects organizations under Alice Walton's Art and Wellness Enterprises.

Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art will outsource its food and beverage services to national company Wolfgang Puck Catering, spokesperson Emma Claybrook confirmed to Axios.State of play: The change affects 73 employees at the museum and other organizations under Alice Walton&#x27;s Art and Wellness Enterprises. All employees will be able to apply for positions with Wolfgang Puck Catering.

New health survey data goes live

The dashboard has data down to census tracts.

The University of Arkansas on Tuesday launched an <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="online dashboard" data-vars-click-url="https://uaheal.uark.edu/ar-compass-explorer-dashboard/" data-vars-content-id="0974139e-f22b-4609-9c1c-cc0041cff521" data-vars-headline="New health survey data goes live" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://uaheal.uark.edu/ar-compass-explorer-dashboard/" target="_blank">online dashboard</a> where the public can see detailed health-related data for the whole state.Why it matters: Arkansas struggles with poor health outcomes, and the data can help lawmakers make informed policy decisions to improve Arkansans&#x27; health, Arkansas Health Survey lead researcher Michael Niño told Axios in February during an event to preview the survey.

Court temporarily blocks state's social media law

The law is part of an ongoing effort by Arkansas to restrict children's and teens' social media usage.

Arkansas cannot enforce <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="a law" data-vars-click-url="https://arkleg.state.ar.us/Home/FTPDocument?path=%2FACTS%2F2025R%2FPublic%2FACT900.pdf" data-vars-content-id="1a1e1b7b-1561-41b4-be97-83158ca3eaf5" data-vars-headline="Court temporarily blocks state&#x27;s social media law" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://arkleg.state.ar.us/Home/FTPDocument?path=%2FACTS%2F2025R%2FPublic%2FACT900.pdf" target="_blank">a law</a> that would require social media platforms to regulate minors&#x27; access — at least for now, a federal judge ruled this week.Why it matters: The law, Act 900 of 2025, likely violates the First Amendment, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="U.S. District Judge Timothy Brooks wrote" data-vars-click-url="https://netchoice.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/NetChoice-v.-Griffin-Arkansas-Act-900-Enjoined_Apr-20-2026.pdf" data-vars-content-id="1a1e1b7b-1561-41b4-be97-83158ca3eaf5" data-vars-headline="Court temporarily blocks state&#x27;s social media law" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://netchoice.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/NetChoice-v.-Griffin-Arkansas-Act-900-Enjoined_Apr-20-2026.pdf" target="_blank">U.S. District Judge Timothy Brooks wrote</a> in granting a preliminary injunction.

Supreme Court justice to speak in Bentonville

The talk is part of a Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art speaker series.

Supreme Court Justice <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Amy Coney Barrett" data-vars-click-url="https://crystalbridges.org/calendar/building-bridges-a-conversation-with-justice-amy-coney-barrett/" data-vars-content-id="12e1a2db-9006-4744-9e31-c9ab90f5821b" data-vars-headline="Supreme Court justice to speak in Bentonville" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://crystalbridges.org/calendar/building-bridges-a-conversation-with-justice-amy-coney-barrett/" target="_blank">Amy Coney Barrett</a> will speak on May 9 at Heartland Whole Health Institute in Bentonville as part of a Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art speaker series.State of play: The series, Building Bridges, is intended to bring together thought leaders and artists with differing perspectives to model civic dialogue, according to Crystal Bridges.

Arkansas shelters save more pets

Two-thirds of the state's animal shelters are "no-kill."

Animal shelters in Arkansas are killing fewer cats and dogs by preventing shelter stays and helping pets get adopted instead, Michelle Logan, Best Friends Pet Resource Center director, told Axios.By the numbers: About 900 fewer animals were killed in Arkansas shelters in 2025 compared to 2024, according to Best Friends Animal Society, the national nonprofit organization that has a Bentonville center.

Panel: NWA needs regional strategy

The same concerns came up repeatedly in conversations across the region: traffic, preserving rural land and protecting each community's identity

Northwest Arkansas leaders on Wednesday said the region still has time to get growth right, but only if leaders act with deliberate purpose.The big picture: A panel discussion at the Northwest Arkansas Council&#x27;s spring meeting showed there&#x27;s a pressing need for a regional strategy.

Northwest Arkansas Council outlines visionary plan

The region's most pressing challenges are interconnected

Development

Leaders of the Northwest Arkansas Council on Wednesday revealed a vision for a regional approach to plan for development, housing, transportation, water and land use.Why it matters: NWA&#x27;s current path is fractured and gets harder to manage as each city grows, potentially undercutting the area&#x27;s affordability and livability as its population is set to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="hit 1 million" data-vars-click-url="https://nwacouncil.org/growth/" data-vars-content-id="c1e119d0-9ce1-4464-a846-9f1d9b77d274" data-vars-headline="Northwest Arkansas Council outlines visionary plan" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://nwacouncil.org/growth/" target="_blank">hit 1 million</a> by 2050.

University of Arkansas landmark set to reopen

The Fine Arts Center opened in 1951, uniting art, architecture, music and theater under one roof.

Education

The University of Arkansas School of Art will reopen its Fine Arts Center on Thursday after a $38 million restoration of the midcentury building designed by Fayetteville native <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Edward Durell Stone" data-vars-click-url="https://www.edwarddurellstone.org/" data-vars-content-id="0062fb03-3d78-4307-bd5b-a74572d341ff" data-vars-headline="University of Arkansas landmark set to reopen" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.edwarddurellstone.org/" target="_blank">Edward Durell Stone</a>.Why it matters: The project preserves one of the campus&#x27;s defining buildings and reinforces the university&#x27;s growth as a regional and national arts school.

News 🗞

Kitchen Sink: News flock

What to know about the ongoing fiscal session

Gov. Sanders on Iran, Tucker Carlson and GOP

Crystal Bridges outsources hospitality staff

Razorbacks to hit the road